Dear NASET News,

Welcome toNASET'sWEEK in REVIEW. Here, we provide you with the latest publications fromNASETto read and or download, as well as some of the most interesting articles that have happened this week in the field of special education. We hope you enjoy this publication. Feel free to send us articles for this publication or let us know your thoughts about theWEEK in REVIEWatnews@naset.org.Have a great weekend.Sincerely,

NASET Sponsor - Smith System

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OMEGA GAMMA CHI

NASET Sponsor - Liberty Mutual

New This Week on NASET

Parent Teacher Conference Handout

August 2013

Purpose of Intelligence Testing

Intelligence tests are psychological tests that are designed to measure a variety of mental functions, such as reasoning, comprehension, and judgment (Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders, 2011). Intelligence tests are most helpful (and probably most appropriate) when they are used to determine specific skills, abilities, and knowledge that a child either has or does not have. When such information is combined with other evaluation data, it can be directly applied to school programming. Intelligence tests attempt to measure a number of skills.....

Pa. Group Alleges Discrimination in Alternative-School Placements

The Pennsylvania-based Education Law Center filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice, saying that young people with disabilities and black students are being placed in alternative schools far out of proportion to their represenation in the school population. The complaint focuses on the state's Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth programs, which the legal advocacy group call "educationally inferior." The complaint includes information gathered from analyzing four years of student placement data. To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

Do you need to engage multiple stakeholders in discussions of how to implement the CCSS and how to assess mastery toward them? Use the IDEA Partnership's dialogue guides, which are especially designed to help you engage deeply in the conversation and the work. Visit

Study Points To Bullying Risk Factors For Kids With Autism

Kids with autism are more likely to be bullied as they get older but the odds of victimization are influenced by a variety of factors, new research suggests. In a survey of teachers and parents, British researchers found that bullying is more common among kids on the spectrum who attend mainstream schools as opposed to special education environments. Bullying also becomes more prevalent as children enter adolescence, according to the findings published online in the journal Autism. To read more,click here

Tingling and numbness in your joints, chronic pain and spasms, and fatigue and weakness are not just indicators of chronic tiredness; they are often the early symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). More than 2.1 million people are affected by the disease worldwide, although that number is thought to be even greater because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not require physicians in the U.S. to report new cases of MS, says the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Relapsing-remitting MS - the experience of relapses or episodes of deteriorating neurological function - is the most common form of MS seen in the initial diagnosis of patients.To read more,click here

Honor Society for Special Education Teachers

NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET Members

Through an agreement with The American Academy of Special Education Professionals(AASEP), NASET members now have the opportunity to achieve AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) at a reduced fee. AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) is a voluntary choice on the part of the candidate. The candidate for Board Certification wishes to demonstrate a commitment to excellence to employers, peers, administrators, other professionals, and parents. From the standpoint of the Academy, board certification will demonstrate the highest professional competency in the area of special education. Board Certification in Special Educationestablishes a much needed standard for professionals, across disciplines, who work with exceptional children.

For more information on Board Certification in Special Education,click here

Risedronate Clinical Trial Shows Rapid Relief For Children With Osteogenesis Imperfecta: A New Hope For Kids With Brittle Bones?

Children with osteogenesis imperfecta live under the constant threat of breaking their bones, but a relatively new drug, risedronate, has rejuvenated hopes that the pediatric disease can be treated. The risk of bone fracture dropped in kids taking the drug in as little as six weeks, according to a Phase III clinical trial reported this week in the journal Lancet. Osteogenesis imperfecta strikes about one in 20,000 kids, but even with mild cases, the risk of breaking a long bone - like a femur, tibia, or ulna - is about 100 times higher than the general population. Nearly three out of four children with the disorder suffer a spinal injury at some point, while several others have deformed limbs. To read more,click here

Special Education Office Moves Toward Measuring Student Outcomes

Thirty-nine states have garnered a "meets requirements" rating from the U.S. Department of Education's office of special education programs on the quality of their programs for students with disabilities. But this is the last year the annual state reports (the full list of reports, which were released last month and cover the 2011-12 school year, can be found here) will focus primarily on "compliance indicators"-for example, timely resolution of due process complaints. The federal special education office is moving to a system that will require states to demonstrate how they are working to improve the educational outcomes for students with disabilities. To read more,click here

Cryptic Leaflet Threatens To Expose 'Disabled'

In what officials are calling the work of a hate group, fliers have appeared in several Portland, Ore. neighborhoods threatening to out people with disabilities who receive government aid.

Portland officials are asking for help from the public after learning of the leaflets found in at least five neighborhoods. "There are sixteen people in this neighborhood who vote and receive cash disability payments," reads one of the typed notes signed by "Artemis of the wildland." "The names of these people are being posted where they can be seen by taxpayers and the neighborhood can decide who is truly disabled," the note continues. "Some of us in the neighborhood wish to save this democracy and to stand in the way of those who would destroy it." To read more,click here

Smoking During Pregnancy Increases Asthma Risk in Children

A mother's smoking habits has now been linked to an increased risk of asthma in preschool children, according to a new study. Also, smoking during the early stages of pregnancy is especially dangerous. Researchers say that women who are planning to have a baby should give up smoking before getting pregnant as smoking during early pregnancy increases the chances of the baby developing asthma in later years. Medical Daily had earlier reported that smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of the child developing autism. To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

The Backpack Connection Series was created by Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children (TACSEI) to provide a way for teachers and parents/caregivers to work together to help young children develop social-emotional skills and reduce challenging behavior. Each Backpack Connection handout provides information that helps parents stay informed about what their child is learning at school and specific ideas on how to use the strategy or skill at home. For more information,visit:

NASET Sponsor - Smith System

Allergies Are Not Only Genetic but Also Gender Related

Not only are allergies hereditary, but also they are gender related among parents and their children. A new study suggests a child's risk of inheriting allergies increases if a parent of the same sex suffers from allergies. Though prior research has confirmed allergies as a hereditary condition, many believed allergies were a maternal effect compared to a paternal effect, but Professor Hasan Arshad, DM, a consultant in allergy and immunology at Southhampton General Hospital, discovered allergic diseases, such as eczema and asthma, are gender related rather than simply being passed down from the mother. To read more,click here

All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, August 19, 2013 at 12:00 p.m.

Researchers Pursuing Novel Methods to Diagnose Autism

A handful of recent studies are delving into new methods of screening children and adults for autism. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 1 in 88 children has this disorder, which affects communication, behavior, and socialization. In one study, researchers suggest that "micromovements" some people with autism make when asked to point to a dot on a screen may be indicative of the disorder. These resultshave been published in the open-access journal Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience. (The journal Medical Daily offers a less-dense synopsis of the research.) To read more,click here

Parent 'Optimism Training' May Reduce Behavior Problems

Providing "optimism training" to parents of children with developmental disabilities who struggle with challenging behavior appears to go a long way, researchers say. Behavior issues seen in children were more likely to subside for parents whose own attitudes were addressed while they were taught to implement positive behavior support as opposed to parents who were merely trained in how to address their children's challenges. The findings come from a five-year study looking at 54 families of children ages 3 to 6 with developmental disabilities who struggled with serious challenging behaviors like aggression and self-injury. Researchers specifically selected parents who were pessimistic about their children's prospects. To read more,click here

NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET Members

Through an agreement with The American Academy of Special Education Professionals(AASEP), NASET members now have the opportunity to achieve AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) at a reduced fee. AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) is a voluntary choice on the part of the candidate. The candidate for Board Certification wishes to demonstrate a commitment to excellence to employers, peers, administrators, other professionals, and parents. From the standpoint of the Academy, board certification will demonstrate the highest professional competency in the area of special education. Board Certification in Special Educationestablishes a much needed standard for professionals, across disciplines, who work with exceptional children.

For more information on Board Certification in Special Education,click here

FDA Warns That Laser Toys Can Cause Blindness, Eye Injuries

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a statementcautioning parents that laser toys may be harmful to children. Spinning tops, toy guns and hand-held "light sabers" can all cause serious injuries if used without proper care. "When operated unsafely, or without certain controls, the highly-concentrated light from lasers-even those in toys-can be dangerous, causing serious eye injuries and even blindness," the FDA wrote in the statement. "And not just to the person using a laser, but to anyone within range of the laser beam." To read more,click here

Early Discipline Tied to Less Use of Drugs, Alcohol in Teens

Correcting disruptive behavior in young children could help prevent them from using alcohol and drugs when they're teens, researchers report. Their study included 172 boys with disruptive behavior in kindergarten who were divided into three groups. All of the boys came from low-income families in Montreal. One group of 46 boys took part in a two-year intervention program when they were ages 7 to 9. The program included training to help the boys learn self-control and reduce impulsive and antisocial behavior. Their parents were taught to recognize problem behaviors in their sons, set clear goals and reinforce appropriate behaviors. To read more,click here

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Black Infants in U.S. Twice as Likely to Die as Whites: CDC

Survival odds for black American infants are considerably worse than for white babies, a new U.S. study finds. Despite a steady decline in overall infant death rates, black infants are nearly twice as likely to die before their first birthday compared to white babies, and premature black infants are three times more likely to die during their first year than premature white babies, according to figures released Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report also notes that the South accounts for the majority of states with the highest rates of infant death. The findings of racial and regional disparities show that challenges remain, according to the study, published in the Aug. 8 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. To read more,click here

Obese Kids More Likely to Have Asthma, With Worse Symptoms

Overweight and obese kids are more likely to struggle with asthma than kids of normal weight, according to a new review of more than 623,000 children. Researchers found that children carrying extra weight are between 1.16 to 1.37 times more likely to develop asthma than normal-weight kids, with the risk growing as their body-mass index -- a measure of body fat encompassing height and weight -- increases. Obese children also experience more frequent and severe episodes of asthma, requiring more medical attention and drug therapy, found the study in the Aug. 7 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology. To read more,click here

Mother's Asthma During Pregnancy May Raise Child's Health Risks

A large new study of Danish women has tied a mother's asthma during pregnancy to a higher risk for developing a wide range of childhood diseases among her offspring. The finding does not broadly concern all mothers who have a history of asthma, but rather those who actually experience an asthma attack while pregnant. The observation could lead to heightened scrutiny of asthma status during pregnancy, and increased efforts to better control the condition, the researchers suggested. It may also encourage more vigilant monitoring of children who are born to mothers whose pregnancy included asthma flare-ups. To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

The Challenging Behaviors Series has been developed to assist teachers and parents in providing the best possible educational opportunities to children with autism spectrum disorders in their home and classroom. Right now, there are 10 fact sheets in the series, including Functional Behavioral Assessment of Young Children and Communicative Alternatives to Challenging Behavior. At the link below, you'll see the series listed on the right. Visit http://lend.umn.edu/resources/index.asp

Healthy Eating, Good Night's Sleep Really Do Help Kids Learn

Backing what many parents already believe, experts say that healthy eating and good sleep habits can help youngsters do well at school. "Your brain can't work if you're not consuming enough calories, and in general that's not a problem," Krista Casazza, an assistant professor in the nutrition sciences department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said in a university news release. "But when kids go to school without eating breakfast, their [thinking and learning skills] can be affected." Children should start the day with fruits, proteins and whole grains. They should avoid sugary cereals because they cause a sugar high followed by a crash. To read more,click here

Video Games Boost Visual Attention but Reduce Impulse Control

A person playing a first-person shooter video game like Halo or Unreal Tournament must make decisions quickly. That fast-paced decision-making, it turns out, boosts the player's visual skills but comes at a cost, according to new research: reducing the person's ability to inhibit impulsive behavior. This reduction in what is called "proactive executive control" appears to be yet another way that violent video games can increase aggressive behavior. "We believe that any game that requires the same type of rapid responding as in most first-person shooters may produce similar effects on proactive executive control, regardless of violent content," says Craig Anderson, Director of the Center for the Study of Violence at Iowa State University. "However, this is quite speculative," he warns. But what is not so speculative is the growing body of research that links violent video games -- and to a certain extent, total screen time -- to attention-related problems and, ultimately, to aggression. To read more,click here

Every hourly increase in daily television watching at 29 months of age is associated with diminished vocabulary and math skills, classroom engagement (which is largely determined by attention skills), victimization by classmates, and physical prowess at kindergarten, according to Professor Linda Pagani of the University of Montreal and the CHU Sainte-Justine children's hospital. "This is the first time ever that a stringently controlled associational birth cohort study has looked at and found a relationship between too much toddler screen time and kindergarten risks for poor motor skills and psychosocial difficulties, like victimization by classmates," Pagani said. "These findings suggest the need for better parental awareness and compliance with existing viewing recommendations put forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The AAP discourages watching television during infancy and recommends not more than two hours per day beyond age 2. It seems that every extra hour beyond that has a remarkably negative influence." To read more,click here

NASET's Latest Job Listings

* $125,000 Salary for Master Middle School Teachers! - Join a team of master teachers at The Equity Project (TEP) Charter School. TEP is a 480-student 5th through 8th grade middle school in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. To learn more - Click here

* English Language Arts Special Education Teacher - Two Rivers Public Charter School is looking for a dynamic, dedicated, flexible English language arts special education teacher to become part of a vibrant educational community. This position is newly created and available in August 2013.To learn more - Click here

* Educational Business Development Specialist - Quality Behavioral Solutions (QBS) is a fast-growing Boston-based training company providing behavioral consultation services and crisis prevention training throughout the U.S. and Canada. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher - APTS is currently in search of Special Education Teachers for both our Alexandria and Fredericksburg locations. To learn more - Click here

Food For Thought..........

Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although eating honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called. A.A. Milne,Winnie-the-Pooh